Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino has asked Pierluigi Casiraghi not to select Riccardo Montolivo for the Olympics this summer.
Gifted midfielder Montolivo was a member of Roberto Donadoni’s provisional Italy squad for Euro 2008, but missed the final cut.
The Atalanta youth product is expected to receive the chance to participate at the Olympic Games in China by way of compensation, but Corvino is hoping he won’t be chosen.
“If Montolivo goes to Beijing in August it will be a big loss for us given that we have to play the Champions League preliminaries at that time,” Corvino said.
“I hope that Casiraghi will leave Riccardo to us, given that he already has a very close-knit squad.
“We are making a big effort to ensure that Cesare Prandelli has as competitive and prepared a squad as possible at his disposal as we compete for the big prizes.”
